From AL.com:

Gov. Bob Riley’s finance director has cracked down on reporters’ access to all branches of the agency.

Instead of being able to deal separately with the divisions under Director Jim Main - ranging from the budget office to the comptroller to purchasing to the state motor pool - reporters are being told that they must speak directly with Main.

And any request by the media to view a public contract or other public document under the Finance Department’s control must first be approved by Main, said Kathy Johnson, the department’s public affairs director.

In my opinion the change raises questions about what the department might have to hide.  The funny part of the article is that calls to various officials in the department were referred to Kathy Johnson, the department’s public affairs director (a.k.a. spokeswoman).  Johnson, the department’s spokeswoman, responded to questions from the Huntsville Times by saying, “Mr. Main is the person to talk to. He’s the spokesperson for the department first and foremost. I’m secondary.”  So why the hell are we paying for them to have a spokeswoman who is not allowed to be the spokeswoman?  I see an opportunity for cost savings.

• Jim Main changes direction
• This is the best guy we can find?
• Is this good or bad?
• Huntsville councilman to hold immigration forum
• The idiot formerly known as Chad Johnson

This entry was posted by Brian on Wednesday, August 1st, 2007 at 4:36 am and is filed under Alabama, Government. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. Please note the copyright policy.